Three little secrets for growing flowers, so your plants will never have yellow leaves or root rot again
Why is it that when it comes to growing flowers, some people's plants are truly flourishing, with lush green leaves, thriving all year round, thick roots and strong leaves, blooming countless flowers, no yellow leaves, no root rot. The potting soil never becomes compacted. Yet some people's plants grow thinner and thinner, until in the end only an empty pot is left. The editor has put together three little secrets for growing flowers, so your plants will never have yellow leaves or root rot again!
It turns outThe secret to potting soil that never becomes compactedis this: if your family often eats peanuts and walnuts, at first everyone threw the shells away, but later they all collected them, and when planting flowers, they put the peanut shells and walnut shells at the bottom of the pot before planting. Peanut shells and walnut shells can be crushed a bit and mixed into the soil for even better results. This way the soil is both airy and well-draining, so the potting soil won't become compacted for ten years, its roots grow well, and naturally the flowers grow well too! There are lots of these things at home, so you don't even need to buy clay pebbles or anything like that. You can also put some brick and tile pieces at the bottom of the pot; this small detail lets the plant's roots breathe smoothly, grow vigorously, and bloom often.
Some flower-growing enthusiasts seem to have filled a whole balcony with flowers without spending money, and of course, that's because they know how topropagate by cuttings. A single stem in their hands can turn into a new potted plant. But that doesn't mean you'll be able to get your cuttings to root successfully. The reason is?
The secret to successful flower cuttings, according to a flower lover: when taking cuttings of hydrangea, bougainvillea, spider plant, begonia and so on, don't put them in a separate flower pot; instead, take the cuttings in a pot that has already been used to grow plants. This makes it easier for them to survive, root and sprout! There are several reasons for this: watering is easier to control, so they won't dry out or become waterlogged; second, other plants provide shade, so rooting is faster.
Why is it that potted plants bought from the flower and bird market are fresh and lush at first, but within a month they alwaysdrop leaves, turn yellow and wither？
One flower lover revealed: when you bring home a purchased potted flower, you must definitely dump out the soil and replace it; if what you bought isn't the kind of greenhouse-grown flower with a soil ball, you must also remove the soil ball.
Soak it in clean water for three hours, then replace the soil and plant it again. After planting, water it thoroughly once, also called the settling-in watering. Only this way can it adapt to the home environment and grow more and more vigorously.
What to do about yellow leaves, root rot and few flowers? Key points for caring for flower roots
Many flower lovers say that growing flowers means growing roots: only when the roots are well cared for can the branches and leaves be emerald green and lush, and only then will the flowers bloom abundantly and brightly. The most common problems in everyday flower growing are yellow leaves, root rot and few flowers, and most of these are closely related to the plant's roots. Plants should by nature grow in the open earth, yet we artificially plant them in a tiny flower pot, and even keep them indoors; whether in terms of soil, temperature or sunlight, every aspect of the environment more or less goes against the plant's nature.
Under these circumstances, how can we care for the plant's roots well and make the plant stronger? Only by absorbing enough water and breathing in enough oxygen can a plant better deliver nutrients to its branches and leaves and grow more and more vigorously.
Plants absorb water in two ways: active and passive.
In the process of growing flowers, many flower lovers have noticed that dumb cane (Dieffenbachia), pothos and areca palm all show the phenomenon of water dripping and guttation from their leaves. When we break or cut open the stems of flowers and plants, water or liquid flows from the wound; this is called "bleeding". This is a sign of active water absorption by the plant. The more active the root system, the stronger its water-absorbing capacity, so both guttation and bleeding can serve as signs that a plant is growing well.
Active water absorption happens because the plant is internally transporting mineral nutrients, which creates the water-absorbing phenomenon; the healthier the plant, the stronger its active water absorption capacity. Passive water absorption, on the other hand, is caused by transpiration from the plant's leaves: the water pressure at the leaf surface drops, which causes water in the soil to move upward. In a high-temperature environment, leaf transpiration is strong; if there isn't enough water in the soil, the water lost from the leaf surface cannot be replenished in time, and the leaves will wilt, scorch, or even the stems and leaves will dry up and die. This is why people always say you need to water more in summer.
The basic condition for healthy roots is aerobic respiration. Only by absorbing water and the oxygen in the soil can effective oxidation reactions be triggered, setting the plant's internal systems in motion.
Why do people always say the soil should be loose, why should you ventilate often, and why do plants become unhealthy when the soil is compacted? Insufficient fertility is one aspect, but insufficient oxygen is an even bigger problem.
During a plant's growth, temperatures that are too high or too low both affect root respiration and weaken the roots' ability to actively absorb water. If you water more at this time, black rot and root rot very easily occur, which is what we usually call plant dormancy or slow growth. The importance of temperature and oxygen to the roots also explains why compost must be thoroughly rotted before use. The fermentation process of fertilizer not only produces heat but also produces carbon dioxide. If it is not fully rotted and is allowed to come into contact with the roots, the result is that the temperature is too high, root vitality drops or the roots are directly burned to death, and the proportion of carbon dioxide in the soil rises, which also affects respiration.
Therefore, unrotted fertilizer must never come into contact with the roots of flowers and plants. At this point, I believe our dear flower lovers can understand how important water, temperature and oxygen are to plant health.
What to do about root rot and yellow leaves in lucky bamboo
Flower and Bonsai Network introduction: today, Flower and Bonsai Network's editor shares with you an article on what to do about root rot and yellow leaves in lucky bamboo. Let's take a look.
Lucky bamboo
Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is a common green plant kept at home. It can absorb waste gases and improve the air quality in a room. But many friends have told Huahua that their lucky bamboo has developed yellow leaves and root rot. What exactly is causing this?
1. Cause: temperature too low
Lucky bamboo likes a warm, humid environment. If the temperature is too low, the roots won't absorb enough water, and over time the leaves easily turn yellow and the roots rot.
Solution:
Lucky bamboo is a tropical foliage plant, so when caring for it you must make sure the temperature where it grows stays between 18-24 degrees, and place it somewhere relatively warm.
2. Cause: insufficient light or exposure to blazing sun
If lucky bamboo is exposed to blazing sun for a long time, symptoms such as withered leaf edges and yellow spots on the sun-facing parts of the leaves appear very easily; but if it is kept in a dark environment for a long time, so that light is insufficient, the leaves cannot carry out photosynthesis, which also makes the leaves turn yellow.
Solution:
Lucky bamboo should be placed somewhere bright such as the living room, so that it can both carry out photosynthesis and avoid being exposed to blazing sun.
Source: Yanghua Daquan, WeChat public account: yanghua98